Envelope opener



Dec. 17, 1957 15 2,816,701

' ENYELOPEDPENER Filed NOV. 12, 1954 Fig./

IN VEN TOR.

Je'rry United States PatentQ ENVELOPE OPENER Jerry F. Sisk, Zanesville, Ohio Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,405

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-86) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in envelope openers of a type embodying the provision of a ripping cord attached to the envelope at the fold or the flap thereof.

An important object of the invention is to provide means for anchoring each end of the ripping cord at the underside of the flap and including a gummed tab at one end of the cord provided with a severable portion to which the adjacent end of the ripping cord is secured.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable in operation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for which the same is intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of an envelope showing the flap in sealed position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the severable tab removed in initial envelope opening position;

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the ripping cord pulled in an envelope opening movement;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the envelope with the flap in open position and showing the ripping cord at the inside of the flap;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on a line 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the severable flap;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of a modified severable flap construction; and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the modified flap.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and first with respect to the form of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the numeral 5 designates an envelope of a conventional construction and including a sealing flap 6 at its upper edge and foldable into sealing position along the fold line 7.

A ripping cord 8 is secured to the inside of the flap at the fold line thereof and one end of the ripping cord is secured to the inside of the envelope by a gummed tab 9.

The other end portion 10 of the ripping cord extends outwardly of the envelope through a slit 11 at the adjacent end of the fold line 7 and the end portion 10 of the ripping cord is cemented between double folds 12 of a severable end portion 13 of a second gummed tab 14. The severable end portion 13 of the tab is folded upon itself and cemented upon itself with the end portion 10 of the ripping cord cemented therebetween to ailchol' the cord to the severable free end portion 13 of stab 2,816,701 Patented Dec. 17, 1 957 "ice The tab 14'is cemented to the rear of the flap 6 adjacent the slit 11 and the free end portion 13 ofrthe tab is united therewith along a horizontal score line 15 to facilitate tearing the severable free end portion 13 of the tab along the score line and with the adjacent end portion 10 of the ripping cord attached thereto. The free end portion 13 of the tab'may befolded downwardly behind the flap of the envelope, as shown in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawing to prevent accidental tearing thereof.

In the modified construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawing, the severable free end portion 16 of the gummed tab 17 is united therewith along a vertical score line 18 and the adjacent free end portion 19 of the ripping cord is cemented between the double folds of the severable free end portion 16 of the tab.

In the operation of the device, the severable free end portion 13 of the tab 14 is gripped in the fingers of a person and torn along the score lines 15 in the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, or along the score line 18 of the modified construction illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, and after the free end portion of the tab has been removed, the ripping cord 8 may then be pulled in a direction toward the opposite side of the envelope, in the manner indicated in Figure 3 of the drawing, to open the envelope along the fold 7 of the flap 6.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An envelope opener for an envelope of a type including a foldable sealing flap, a ripping cord positioned inside the flap along the line of fold thereof, and means securing each end of the cord to the envelope, at least one of said cord end securing means comprising a gummed tab secured to the outside of the envelope, said tab including a severable pull tab at its free end portion to which the adjacent end of the cord is attached and an envelope attached portion permanently attached to the rear of the foldable sealing flap.

2. An envelope opener for an envelope of a type including a foldable sealing flap, a ripping cord positioned inside the flap along the line of fold thereof, and means securing each end of the cord to the envelope, at least one of said cord end securing means comprising a gummed tab secured to the outside of the envelope, said tab including a free end portion to which the adjacent end of the cord is attached and an envelope attached portion permanently attached to the rear of the foldable sealing flap and said free end portion being united to the envelope attached portion of the tab along a score line.

3. An envelope opener for an envelope of a type including a foldable sealing flap, a ripping cord positioned inside the flap along the line of fold thereof, and means securing each end of the cord to the envelope, at least one of said cord end securing means comprising a gummed tab secured to the outside of the envelope, said tab including an enveloped attached portion and a free end portion, the former being attached to the rear of the foldable sealing flap and the latter being folded upon itself and between the folds of which the adjacent end of the cord is cemented, and said folded free end portion being united to the envelope attached portion of the tab along a score line.

4. Au envelope opener for an envelope of a type in.

. a 3 eluding a foldable sealing flap, a ripping cord positioned References Cited in the file of this patent inside the flap along the line Of fold thereof, and means UNITED STATES PATENTS securing each end of the cord to the envelope, at least one of said cord end securing means comprising a-tab 13281028 Ahana 1920 adhesively secured to the outside of the foldable sealing 5 2,292,924 Boqrke 1942 flap of the envelope, said envelope having a slit at one 2644'634 weltzner July 1953 end of the fold of the flap and through which one end of the cord extends to a position outwardly of the enve- V FOREIGN PATENTS lope, and Said tab including a non-adhesively coated 596,239 France Aug. 3, 1925 severable free end portion to which the outer end of the 10 644,958 France June 25, 1928 cord is attached. 1 

